Air conditioning apparatus



June 26, 1934. CAMPBELL AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed May 16, 1932 Patented June 26, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus, and has special reference to an apparatus for cleansing and modifying the temperature and humidity of the air by circulating the air along the surface of a container enclosing a cooling agent and a quantity of water which is circulated along and against the inside of the container automatically and as an incident to the change of temperature of the water by the circulating air.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character and for the purpose mentioned comprising a container supported within and separated by a space from an enclosing wall, and equipped with means for forcing air through said space, means for supporting a cooling agent within the container and for circulating water through a circuitous course in the container so as to cause the water to flow into contact with the entire or a relatively large portion of the inside of the container wall, and thus produce a modifying and tempering effect on the temperature of the air passing through said space. In the performance of this apparatus, condensed moisture accumulates upon the outer surface of the container wall and the air moving through said space is subjected to the cleansing action of the moisture. Thus, the temperature and humidity of the air are modified, and the air is properly cleansed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the type and character mentioned embodying means for causing the air to circulate spirally through said space around the container and to discharge or pass from the upper end of said space in diverging directions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified apparatus for the purpose of modifying the temperature and humidity of air and. at the same time and as an incident thereto, cleansing the air.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of my improved air conditioning apparatus.

The device shown comprises a rectangular frame including a series of corner upright members 1 connected at a distance above their lower ends by connecting members 2 and near their upper ends by connecting members 3. The connecting members 2 may be connected by one or more intermediate connecting members 4. This frame is easily movable and is portable. To facilitate movement of the apparatus, the lower ends of the uprights 1 may be equipped with supporting rollers or castors 5.

An upwardly flaring enclosing wall 6 is mounted within the frame, extending between the up- 55 per connecting members 3 and having a bottom wall '7 seated upon the intermediate connecting member or members 4, or otherwise supported.

An air blower device 8 of conventional or other approved construction is supported near the lower end of the enclosing wall 6 and blows or forces air into the enclosure within said wall through a passage 9, air being admitted and supplied to said blower by an inlet passage 10. This air blower is operative at variable speeds at the option of the user and constitutes means for varying the speed of circulation of the air through the apparatus and the speed of circulation of the ice water and consequently the melting of the ice.

A container formed by a wall 11 is mounted and supported within the enclosure formed by the wall 6 and is separated from said wall 6 by a space 12. This container is impervious and v is provided with an impervious bottom wall 13.

The wall 11 flares upwardly in parallel relationship to the wall 6 in the specific embodiment shown, although this relationship may be varied if desired. A plurality of inclined fins or baflies, or series of inclined fins or baffles 14, may be located in the space 12 and arranged in a relationship so that the air forced upwardly through the space 12 by the blower will be given a rotary or circular movement in said space, around and against the container wall 11, so as to move along and into contact with the entire outer surface of the wall 11 and thereby be subjected to the cleansing action of the condensed moisture accumulated on the wall 11.

A device constituting a combined support for ice, or other refrigerant, and circulator for the water within the container 11 is mounted in said container. Said device comprises an upwardly flaring wall 15 within the container 11 and having its lower end 16 seated on the bottom wall 13. The wall 15 has an outwardly extended imperforate portion 17 in connection with its upper end from the outer marginal edge of which a baffle Wall 18 extends downwardly into the space between and parallel with the walls 11 and 15. no

The wall 18 is separated from the wall 15 by aspace 19 and from the wall 11 by a space 20. The lower edge of the wall 18 is spaced above the bottom wall 13 of the container 11. The blower device 8 may be controlled by a standard thermostatic control (not shown).

An impervious supporting wall 21 is mounted in an appropriate position within the wall 15 and is designed and adapted to support water and ice in the water. The water and ice are surrounded by the wall 15 and the water flows through numerous holes 22 into the space 19 and rises into the space 20 to a height above the upper marginal position 17. The cold water flowing downwardly through the space 19 passes below the lower end of the wall 18 and thence into the space 20 and against the inner surface of the wall 11, causing condensed moisture to accumulate upon the outer surface of said wall 11. The cool or warm air forced into the space 12 by the blower 8 sweeps against the outer surface of the wall 11 and thereby changes or alters the temperature of the water against the inner surface of said wall 11 because said wall 11 acts or functions to a certain extent as a heat transfer device. The warmed water rises through the space 20 and flows over the top 17 and back into the space enclosed by the wall 15. The water rising from the lower end of the space 20 is replaced and replenished by water flowing thereto through the holes 22 and the space 19, so that a continuous circulation of water is thus maintainedthrough the holes 22, the space 19 and the space 20.

The upper end of the container 11 may be provided with a removable and replaceable cover 23 having a marginal flange 24 designed and adapted to telescope upon the upper end of said container 11. This cover is equipped with a handle 25 to facilitate its removal and replacement.

Preferably the container 11 is removable from and replaceable within the enclosure formed by the wall 6. The fins or baffles 14 may be secured directly to the periphery of the wall 11 and supported thereby and constructed so that their outer edges will engage the inner surface of the wall 6 as shown.

A pan or trough 26 is mounted below the container 11 in position to receive condensed moisture dripping or flowing from within said container. A pipe or tube device 27 has one end opening into the pan or trough 26 and the opposite end opening into a drip pan or basin 28 into which the condensed moisture may be discharged. Thispipe 27 may be equipped with a valve 29 to open and close said pipe and permit or prevent and regulate the flow of the condensed moisture from the pan or trough 26 to the basin 28. This basin 28 has arms 30 attached thereto and engaging the connections 2 so as to support and permit removal and replacement of the drip basin. The pan or trough 26 may be supported above the bottom wall 7 by brackets 31.

A pipe 32 may be extended through holes in the walls 6, 11, 18 and 15 to open into the space above the wall 21 and equipped with a valve 33 whereby said pipe may be opened and closed.-

This pipe may be used to withdraw water from the space above the wall 21 or to deliver water into said space, if desired. Preferably the pipe is removable and replaceable, so that it will not interfere with the removal of the various enclosing walls from the frame.

It is now apparent that this improved air conditionizfg apparatus is easily movable and portable. In use, a proper amount of water sufficient to fill the spaces 19 and 20 and the space above the wall 21 and to extend over and cover the upper end 17 of the circulating device, and to allow for lessened volume as the ice melts, is poured into the space within the wall 15 and ice is placed within the compartment formed by the walls 15 and 21 and is then covered by the lid 23. The water is cooled by the ice and flows through the holes 22 and fills the space 19 below said holes and rises into and fills the space 20 and overflows the upper end 1'7 of the wall 15. The operating blower 8 forces air through the passage 9 into the space 12 and below the container 11, so that the air is forced along and near or into contact with the entire outer surface of the container 11. This air warms or modifies the temperature of the water in the spaces 19 and 20. It warms the water in the space 20 more than in the space 19 and produces a circulation of said water, causing the warm water to rise through the space 20 and flow over the top 1'? into the compartment formed by the walls 15 and 21. If necessary or desirable, the baffle wall 18 can be treated and conditioned, so that it will not readily conduct or transfer heat from the water in the space 20 to the water in the space 19. The water is again cooled in the compartment formed by the walls 15 and 21 by the ice and caused to flow through the holes 22 and again enter the space 19. The circulation of the water through the holes 22, the space 19 and the space 20 is continued, bringing the cool water successively to the lower ends of the spaces 19 and 20 where the cool water is warmed by the fresh circulating air and caused to rise and reenter the cooling compartment. The circulating air being brought into contact with the condensed moisture accumulating on the outer surface of the wall 11 is thereby cleansed. The fins 14 function as battles to cause the air to circulate around the container 11. The air is discharged from the upper end of the space 12 in diverging directions and by swirling motion, thus creating a proper circulation of the conditioned air in and through the room. The size of the discharge outlet for the air at the upper end of the space 12 may be reduced or increased, or may be of the same size as said space 12 as may be desired, or as may be found useful to obtain the intended and desired results under different conditions.

The invention may be varied otherwise than in the specific particulars mentioned without departure from the nature and principle thereof. I do not restrict myself to any unessential respects, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosing wall, a container surrounded by and spaced from said wall, an enclosure for refrigerant mounted in and spaced from the wall of said container, a wall mounted between said enclosure and said container and spaced from both, and means for forcing air into and through said space between said enclosing wall and said container.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosing wall, a container surrounded by and spaced from said wall. a plurality of battles mounted in the space between said container and said wall and being in intimate contact with said container, an enclosure for refrigerant mounted in and separated from the wall of said container by an intervening space and having holes opening into said intervening space, a wall mounted in said intervening space and spaced from said enclosure and said container and forming a passage extendingdownwardly from said holes and upwardly between said container and said last named wall, and means for forcing air into and through said space between said enclosing wall and said container.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosing wall, a container surrounded by and spaced from said wall, an enclosure for refrigerant mounted in and spaced from the wall of said container and terminating below the upper end of said container and having holes therethrough for the passage of fluid, a wall attached to the upper end of said enclosure and cooperating with said enclosure and said container to form a circuitous passage from said holes downwardly to the lower end of said last named wall and thence upwardly between said container and said last named wall to the upper end of said enclosure, means for admitting air into said space between said enclosing wall and said container, and means for controlling speed of circulation of air through the space between said enclosing wall and said container.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosing wall, a container surrounded by and spaced from said wall, an enclosure for refrigerant mounted in and spaced from the wall of said container and terminating below the upper end of said container and having holes therethrough for the passage of fluid, a wall attached to the upper end of said enclosure and cooperating with said enclosure and said container to form a circuitous passage from said holes downwardly to the lower end of said last named wall and thence upwardly betweeen said container and said last named wall to the upper end of said enclosure, means for forcing air into and through said space between said encl0sing wall and said container, and means for withdrawing water from said space that is between said enclosing wall and said container.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosing wall, a container surrounded by and separated from said wall by an intervening space and adapted to contain water, an enclosure for refrigerant mounted in and spaced from the wall of said container and having holes therethrough for the passage of water to said space between said enclosure and said container, means for forcing air into and through said space between said enclosing wall and said container, and means mounted in said space between said enclosure and said container for directing circulation of water downwardly through said holes and upwardly to the upper end of said container.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising an enclosing wall, a container surrounded by and separated from said wall by an intervening space and adapted to contain water, an enclosure for refrigerant mounted inand spaced from the wall of said container and having holes therethrough'for the passage of water to said space between said enclosure and said container, means for forcing air into and through said space between said enclosing wall and said container, means mounted in said space between said enclosure and said container for directing circulation of water downwardly through said holes and upwardly to the upper end of said container, and

baffles mounted in said space between said enclosing wall and said container for swirling the air around said container.

7. An apparatus of the character described comprising an upwardly flaring enclosing wall, an upwardly flaringcontainer surrounded by and spaced from said wall, an enclosure for refrigen ant mounted in and spaced from the wall of said container and having holes therethrough for the passage of water, a wall mounted between said enclosure and said container and spaced from both causing said water from said holes to flow downwardly below the lower end of said last named wall and thence upwardly between said last named wall and said container, and means for forcing air into and through said space and into contact with the wall of said container to cause circulapassage extending downwardly from the upper portion of said device and thence upwardly to the upper end of said device, and means for forcing air into and through said space between said enclosing wall and said container.

9. An apparatus of the character described comprising ,an enclosing upwardly flaring wall, a container surrounded by and spaced from said wall, a device mounted in said container for supporting refrigerant and water and cooperating with said container to form a water circulatingpassage extending downwardly from the upper portion of said device and-thence upwardly to the upper end of said device, means for forcing air into'and through said spac between said enclosing wall and said container, and means in said space for causing the air to pass around said container.

10. An apparatus of the character described comprising a portable supporting frame, spaced walls mounted on said frame and forming an upwardly flaring air passage, means for forcing air into and through said passage, bafiies in said pasagent devices for directing circulation of water conditioned by said agent against one of said walls, and means for withdrawing water from said space.

12. An apparatus of the character described comprising a portable supporting frame, spaced walls mounted on said frame and forming an upwardly flaring air passage, means for subjecting one of said walls to a refrigerating medium to form condensed moisture on the outer surface of said wall in said passage, a drip pan for receiving said condensed moisture, and means for forcing air into contact with said condensed moisture and into and through said passage.

13. An apparatus of the character described comprising a portable supporting frame, spaced walls mounted on said frame and forming an upwardly flaring air passage, means for forcing air into the lower end of said passage, and devices enclosed by one of said walls for conditioning and directing circulation of water against said wall.

14. An apparatus of the character described comprising a portable supporting frame, spaced walls mounted on said frame and forming an upwardly flaring air passage, means for forcing air into the lower end of said passage, devices enclosed by one of said walls for conditioning and directing circulation of water against said wall, and means for withdrawing water from said passage.

15. An apparatus of the character described comprising a portable supporting frame, an enclosing wall mounted on said frame, side and bottom walls forming a receptacle mounted in and spaced from said enclosing wall and forming an upwardly extended air passage open at its upper end, a bafile wall in said receptacle, and separated from said side wall by a space and forming an enclosure opening into said receptacle at its upper and lower ends, for subjecting said side wall of said receptacle to the action of a refrigerant to form condensed moisture on the outer surface of said side wall in said passage, a drip pan for receiving said condensed moisture adjacent to the lower end of said passage, and means for forcing air into the lower end of said passage and thence upwardly through said passage.

16. An apparatus of the character described comprising a portable supporting frame, an enclosing wall mounted on said frame, side and bottom walls forming a receptacle mounted in and spaced from said enclosing wall and forming an upwardly extended air passage open at its upper end, a baffie wall in said receptacle, and separated from said side wall by a space and forming an enclosure opening into said receptacle at its upper and lower ends, for subjecting said side wall of said receptacle to the action of a refrigerant to form condensed moisture on the outer surface of said side wall in said passage, a drip pan for receiving said condensed moisture adjacent to the lower end of said passage, means for forcing air into the lower end of said passage and thence upwardly through said passage, and baffles in said passage for causing said air to pass in a circular direction through said passage.

GIVEN CAMPBELL. 

